Playing For The Next Generation

Who We Are & What We Do

The Green Sports Alliance is the environmentally-focused trade organization that convenes stakeholders from around the sporting world (teams, leagues, conferences, venues, corporate partners, governmental agencies, athletes, and fans) to promote healthy, sustainable communities where we live and play. We are committed to creating awareness and dedicated to creating meaningful change towards a more sustainable future.

We share resources, experience, and expertise to raise awareness of what’s environmentally possible in sports, business, and society. We mobilize sports organizations, communities, athletes, and fans to create sustainable progress and behavior change.

Our Milestones

The Green Sports Alliance was conceived and founded by Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Inc. and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Inaugural members and partners of the Alliance include the Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Storm, Vancouver Canucks, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Green Building Services, and Milepost Consulting.

The Green Sports Alliance celebrates its national launch date of March 21, 2011. In August, the first Green Sports Alliance Summit is held in Portland, Oregon.

Green Sports Alliance proclaims October 6th the inaugural Green Sports Day with support from The White House, President Barack Obama, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Green Sports Alliance Japan is launched as an independent organization.

Playing for the Next Generation launches.

Play to Zero in partnership with Arc and USGBC launches.

100+ sports teams light green for Green Sports Day.

Team

  • Roger McClendon Executive Director
  • Michael Kraus Director of Sustainable Events and Analytics
  • Matt Adler Director of Corporate & Sports Partnerships
  • Bradley Vogel Member Services and Events Senior Manager
  • Shay Strawser Associate Manager of Communications & Events

Board

  • Elaine Aye, RWDI Associate/Regional Manager
  • Jonathan Balas, Yum! Brands, Inc. Director, Global Sustainability
  • Christy Briggs, Lumen Field/Seattle Seahawks Logistics and Sustainability Manager
  • Carlie Bullock-Jones, Ecoworks Studio Founder and Principal
  • Brandon Hamilton, Kansas City Chiefs Vice President of Stadium Operations and Facilities
  • Brandon Igdalsky, Igdalsky Consulting Principal
  • Dune Ives, Movements That Matter CEO
  • Scott Jenkins, PLANLED Inc. EVP Strategic Partnerships
  • Ian McDoom, Golden State Warriors Director of Engineering
  • Aileen McManamon, 5T Sports Group Founder and Managing Partner
  • Robin Raj, Citizen Group; Solar AquaGrid Founder/Executive Creative Director
  • Jason Twill, The Viridis Initiative Principal
  • Jackie Ventura, Golden State Warriors/Chase Center Sr. Director, Sustainability, Facility Health & Hygiene
  • Jamie Zaninovich, Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner/Chief Operating Officer

Philosophy

The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where we live and play. We encourage the sports industry and its partners to measure, mitigate, and advance their sustainability and social impact.
Sport has a global reach and the Alliance is uniquely positioned to amplify environmental causes and activate passionate fan bases the world over. The Alliance and our members leverage that passion to create meaningful change and provide a universal platform that can catalyze awareness and action.